Global Species Conservation Programmes
White rhino are the second-largest land mammal after blue whales, and their name comes from the Afrikaans word “wyd” which means wide and refers to the animal’s wide mouth. They lack front teeth and use their large lips like a lawnmower to pluck short grass.
The majority (98%) of the southern white rhinos occur in just four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. Southern white rhinos were thought to be extinct in the late 19th century, but in 1895 a small population of fewer than 100 individuals were discovered in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. After more than a century of protection and management, they are now classified as Near Threatened and around 18,000 animals exist in protected areas and private game reserves. They are the only one of the five rhino species that are not endangered.
White rhino have complex social structures and groups, of sometimes a dozen cows and calves, may form. Adult bulls defend territories that they scent mark with sprayed urine and dung piles. Cows and calves move freely through bulls’ territories. Bulls competing for a cow may engage in serious conflict that is accompanied by snorting calls and using both their horns and massive size when fighting. Rhino love to wallow in a muddy pool, often for hours. Wallowing is cooling in the heat and covers their body in mud that, when dry, is then rubbed off on rubbing posts removes external parasites such as ticks. Mud also assists with camouflage and acts as a sunscreen.
Brought back from the brink of extinction once before in 1900, now poaching for their horns now threatens the species again. Horns are believed in some Asian countries to have medicinal benefits and they are carved to create expensive dagger handles sold in the Middle East. Figures of 500 or more rhinos being poached each year are not unusual.
Rhino contribute significantly to economic growth and sustainable development through the tourism industry, which creates job opportunities and provides significant tangible benefits to local communities living alongside the rhino. Supportive community members often report poaching threats to law enforcement agencies. The key focus is on protecting remaining wild populations through monitoring, anti-poaching, and the removal of horns. An armed war against poachers is being fought daily by brave rangers, often with trained detection dogs.
Every year rhino are moved from safe breeding populations to establish new populations in private and government reserves where their security can be guaranteed.
Zoos globally provide significant funding and research for rhino conservation programmes for all five rhino species. In addition, zoos have provided animals for release in several countries where they have become extinct e.g., Uganda and Rwanda.
Red pandas, like giant pandas, are bamboo eater’s native to Asia’s high forests. Despite these similarities and their shared name, the two species are not closely related. Red pandas are much smaller than giant pandas and are the only living member of their taxonomic family. Genetic studies show that red pandas are an ancient species amongst the carnivores and are probably most closely related to the group that includes skunks, raccoons and weasels.
Red pandas can be easily identified by their unique red coat colour, which acts like camouflage within the canopy of fir trees where branches are covered with clumps of reddish-brown moss and white lichens. Red pandas live in high-altitude, temperate forests with bamboo understories in the Himalayas and other high mountains including mountains in Burma and parts of China.
Red Panda populations have decreased by half in recent years, and they are now classified as endangered. Zoos internationally have formed a global species breeding programme for the species and our red pandas belong to this breeding programme. As with many species half of all red pandas borne are males but only one individual male is required to breed and ensure their genetics are represented in the global population. To enable this some zoos must agree to hold excess males only and this is the role we play in the breeding programme.
Our red pandas play a valuable role as ambassadors for their species and during the ever-popular encounters our visitors learn a lot more about red pandas and hopefully fall in love with them and wildlife generally.
The Red Panda Network is committed to the conservation of wild red pandas and their habitat through the education and empowerment of local communities in Nepal and are funded by international agencies including the zoo network.
The planet’s fastest land animal is built for super speed, rather than stamina. A cheetah chase usually only lasts a minute and covers about 300 metres. At full speed, cheetah take three strides a second, covering seven metres per stride with the long tail acting as a rudder. A highly flexible spine allows their body to twist and turn with ease even at high speed. Their prey usually consists of smaller antelope and mammals but on occasion they will even catch ostrich. One tenth of their prey is stolen by lions or hyaenas so they hunt during the day to reduce this impact. The distinctive black ‘tear marks’ running from its eyes are thought to help reflect the glare of the sun.
Cheetahs communicate in many ways. Some of these are through vocalizations such as purrs, bleats, barks, growls, hisses, and a high-pitched chirping sound. Another way they communicate is through scent marking and males will mark their territory by spraying urine or by cheek and chin rubbing against a tree trunk or bush. In the last 100 years, the world has lost 90% of the wild cheetah population, cheetah are now found in just 9% of their historic range with the global population is estimated at less than 8,000. The Asian cheetah population now numbers just 50 or so animals, in one isolated pocked of Iran. A reintroduction programme was initiated in India in 2022.
Cheetah kill prey daily and on private land this puts in them in conflict with stock farmers. In addition, the loss of open grasslands in Africa to thick bush due to a lack of regular fire has greatly reduced their natural habitat. The key focus is on protecting remaining wild populations through:
- Educating rural communities and farmers.
- Capture and translocation of problem animals.
- Guard dog programmes in which dogs are raised and live amongst livestock and protect them from cheetah and other predators.
Guard dog programmes have extended to several countries and conservation programmes and areas including little blue penguins being protected from cats and foxes in Victoria. Guard dogs are often not accompanied by a shepherd with all responsibility for the flock delegated to the dog. Similarly, donkeys are used to guard cattle calves from leopards.
Our Cheetahs are part of the regional zoological breeding programme. They are also a part of a global studbook held to assist manage the genetics of the global captive population. Zoos globally provide significant funding and resources for cheetah conservation programmes.
Naturally they occur in the canopies of dense humid forests in Brazil where they drink much of their water from bromeliad plants in the canopy. These tamarins are territorial and defend their area with scent markings and high-pitched squeals. Aggression includes an open mouth, an arched back, and staring. Food includes fruits, nectar, and insects but any smaller animal may be potential food. They use their long, slender fingers and hands to probe into crevices, bark, and other hiding places for insects.
They live in groups of two to eight family members consisting of a breeding pair, offspring of one or two litters and other relatives. After a gestation of about four and a half months, the female usually gives birth to twins. They cling to their mother’s fur for the first few weeks, but all members of the group will carry and care for the infants. Grooming and huddling together forms an important social function with males responsible for 70% of the grooming interactions.
Critically endangered and down to 150 individuals in the wild in 1970, intensive conservation efforts have helped the population recover. Now classified endangered species, there are about 2,500 in the wild — about a third of which are descendants of animals released from the international zoological breeding programme.
The key concern is habitat loss with only 2% of their habitat remaining in Brazil. The selective removal of large trees reduces the available roosting hollows has left them exposed to predators. A human yellow fever outbreak in 2018 infected and reduced the tamarin population by 30% in places. Scientists introduced a successful vaccination programme in 2020.
Several new populations have been re-established using tamarins bred by zoos and animals moved from unprotected wild areas. The survival rate of re-introduced animals has been encouraging, but destruction of unprotected habitat continues. Zoos globally continue to provide significant resources for the golden lion tamarin conservation programme. Our tamarins are part of the international breeding programme.
A non-for-profit has been established to help fund the conservation of the species.
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Who knew an elk could be so adorable 🦌
Romeo is a bit of a showstopper with his impressive horns, and they’re still growing!
Romeo’s antlers can grow at a rate of up to an inch per day during their peak growth phase!
📸 Keeper Kane
#elk #hoofstock #hallsgapzoo #melbourne #victoria #grampians
Tongue out Tuesday with Sumari 🦒
📸 Laura (@droningaustralia )
#tongueouttuesday #giraffe #hallsgapzoo #victoria #melbourne
🦅 Meet Hummer, our magnificent Wedge-Tailed Eagle! 🦅
Hummer’s journey is one of resilience and strength. After being struck by a truck in the wild, this incredible bird of prey was left unable to return to the skies. Now, Hummer calls Halls Gap Zoo home, where he is cared for by our dedicated team.
Though he can’t fly free as he once did due to the permanent injuries he sustained, leaving him unable to hunt for himself, Hummer’s story reminds us of the challenges wildlife face every day on our busy roads. Despite his past, Hummer continues to soar in spirit, and we are lucky to have him as a symbol of both the fragility and strength of nature.
Come visit Hummer at Halls Gap Zoo and learn more about these magnificent eagles and the amazing work we do to protect wildlife!
📸 Laura @droningaustralia
#wedgetailedeagle #bird #raptor #birdofprey #hallsgapzoo #melbourne #grampians
That feeling when you realise it’s almost the weekend 💃🪩🦜
#rainbowlorikeet #lorikeet #hallsgapzoo #victoria #grampians #visitmelbourne #bird
Birri the Tasmanian Devil! 🖤
Tasmanian devils are incredible nighttime scavengers with a sense of smell strong enough to detect carrion up to a kilometer away! At night, they roam long distances, using their keen noses to locate food. And despite their reputation, these little Aussies are known to be quite gentle with each other in social settings, often sharing meals together!
#tasmaniandevil #marsupial #hallsgapzoo #grampians #melbourne
🌿🐾 Meet the brush-tailed rock wallaby! 🐾🌿
This charming marsupial, known for its distinctive brushy tail and agile climbing skills, is a true gem of Australia’s wildlife. Found in rocky outcrops and rugged terrains, these little adventurers are not just adorable; they’re also vital to their ecosystem.
Sadly, their populations have dwindled due to habitat loss and predators. Conservation efforts are underway to protect these unique creatures and their habitats.
Let’s spread the word and support efforts to keep the brush-tailed rock wallaby bouncing into the future! 💚✨
#Hallsgapzoo #BrushTailedRockWallaby #Australia #marsupial #victoria #grampians #wallaby
Pollo, I don`t think that`s how you`re supposed to use a rake. 🤔
#capuchin #hallsgapzoo #monkey #blackcappedcapuchin #Melbourne #visitvictoria #grampians #primate
When both the pony and the wombat need a daily walk 🥰
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James the ostrich showing all he has to offer 🪶
📸 Supervisor Mila
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When someone takes a photo of you mid meal 🫢🐠🦦
Meet our 4 otter girls for lunch by booking in an encounter https://hallsgapzoo.com.au/shop/otter-encounter/
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🎃🐊🐍🦏 Spooky Season Special: Debunking Scary Animal Myths!🦏🐍🐊🎃
Happy Halloween from Halls Gap Zoo! 👻 Are you feeling a bit spooked by crocodiles, snakes, or rhinos? We’ve got a treat for you! Check out our latest video where we debunk some common fears about these amazing creatures and reveal why they’re not as scary as they seem.
From the gentle nature of rhinos to surprising facts about living with snakes and crocs, you’ll discover the truth behind the fright!
This Halloween, let’s celebrate the beauty and importance of all animals. Click the video below and see them in a whole new light!
#HallsGapZoo #Halloween #AnimalFacts #reptiles #Crocodiles #Snakes #Rhinos #spider #melbourne #grampians #lizard #perentie
In the lead up to Spooky Season, some of our animals were treated with pumpkin enrichment! 🎃
Check out how each species reacted to their carved pumpkin, and stay tuned for another Halloween special video tomorrow! 👻
#capuchin #monkey #bird #sunconure #cockatoo #lorikeet #marmoset #tamarin #emu #otter #hallsgapzoo #visitmelbourne #grampians #victoria
Perry the perentie! 🦎
Our resident perentie monitor, Perry, has recently learnt to walk outside his enclosure on a lead. This is fantastic enrichment for Perry, as he gets to experience new sights and smells, all the while basking in the warm Victorian spring sun. ☀️
If you see Perry out and about with his keepers, make sure to say hi!
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Here’s a rainbow to brighten everyone’s day! 🌈
#rainbowlorikeet #lorikeet #bird #hallsgapzoo #enrichment #victoria #visitmelbourne
